Afraid it's the rose tinted specs! I was thinking back to RAF display a/c in the 1980s:Lightning, Phantom, Harrier, Jaguar, Buccaneer, Tornado GR1 and F2/3, Nimrod, Hercules, Vulcan, Sea Harrier and sometimes a Victor. Now we are down to the Typhoon and maybe, the Lightning II.

Of course the variety isn't there any more, but there's no denying Farnborough is extremely lazy, especially on the public days, booking a lineup which would be average at some seaside freebie shows.

Charging the prices they are, for what they offer is a scandal, and is complacency born out of the fact that they know they'll attract London families regardless of what's in the programme because it'll be their only show of the year/two years.

FIA flying displays in recent years have been like the post Shoreham shows we are currently enduring.........high and distant.Add to the mix that it's overcrowded with ridiculous parking arrangements and its a non starter for me.

Dan O'Hagan wrote:Of course the variety isn't there any more, but there's no denying Farnborough is extremely lazy, especially on the public days, booking a lineup which would be average at some seaside freebie shows.

Charging the prices they are, for what they offer is a scandal, and is complacency born out of the fact that they know they'll attract London families regardless of what's in the programme because it'll be their only show of the year/two years.

It's been like this for a while, but with this year's line up I'm hoping it'll be the last time they get away with it...

iainpeden wrote:Afraid it's the rose tinted specs! I was thinking back to RAF display a/c in the 1980s:Lightning, Phantom, Harrier, Jaguar, Buccaneer, Tornado GR1 and F2/3, Nimrod, Hercules, Vulcan, Sea Harrier and sometimes a Victor. Now we are down to the Typhoon and maybe, the Lightning II.

There are simply not the aircraft about that there were.

Absolutely spot-on with that...& the preceding 30 years! The aircraft manufacturing & associated industry has all but disappeared in the UK now. Everything now is tightly cost-driven to the point of squeaking! Forget those halcyon days of returning from Farnborough with bags of goodies & perhaps a freebie 'resin' ( oh!... that hadn't been invented!) model.The great un-washed public don't get to access the Trade-halls during their visit & as there is zero prospect of them ordering any new aircraft, they're gone by then too! Surely the General Public will wake-up & smell the coffee this year when the RAFAT land after 2 passes? Only then (maybe ?) will these biannual mega-mugging days cease!Simplest way to reduce risk to the local populace is to reduce the event by two /three days?

Enthusiasts appear of low importance to FIA, hence why the content gets thinner every two years. Charging the best part of £50 for what's on offer this year, especially with the new restrictions, is quite obscene.

The poll on this forum said less than 10% of members who'd voted planned to attend the public days. Had that poll been run ten years ago, I'd wager it would have been nearer 50% or more. Farnborough's name with the enthusiast is mud, but they'll keep on milking the public teat for a while longer.

No your specs are NOT rose tinted. That was the reality. The older days were better and hugely diverse and apart from some early IATS and the odd Mildenhall, Farnboroughs were unforgettable. But the aviation world has changed almost out of recognition so we should not be surprised. But the organisers' attitude to the Public Days is arrogantly cavalier and needs to be addressed next time - if there IS a next time!!

Rampvan wrote:I returned today wet, but did have a bag full of gizits and i will have another bag full tomorrow and the next and the next and the next

Because a couple of biros and a keyring excuse a terrible, terrible airshow?

Was only replying to an earlier post mate! and it was a bit more than Biros and a keyring!! get off your horse!! why do you have such a downer on RIAT and Farnborough? are you holding a grudge against one or both of these shows, I know you weren't invited back to RIAT to commentate but what has Farnborough done to deserve your wrath?

Apart from today(at RIAT) I have been at Farnborough for the last week and seen every display practice/validation. The 727 is good, as is the F-35 and F-18. I'm afraid the warbird displays were cringe worthy. The Spitfire display consisted of passes at 500ftish followed by a climbing turn and repeat three times. The Lockheed Electra had the turning circle of a B-52! From a point of view of attending at the weekend do not bother.

However that is not Farnborough is about for me. We have some interesting aircraft in the static (Mi-8,HC-27, 747-8, Swedish ATR, An-0124, An-174,KC-390 etc) that we may never clap eyes on again. There must have been over 200 different bizjets in last week too, and quite a few news ones today. For a reg spotter it has been a real fest. Thankfully the Pegasus enclosure ,provided free of charge by the airshow, has also allowed some good photos. Over all I'm satisfied with this year, its not outstanding but not a dismal failure either.

However I feel that 2016 could be the final public display, going all trade mon-Thursday. It will happen one show!

So, Tuesday's show is 2hrs 35mins long,1 mixed mil flyby2 mil transport4 fast jets1 adv jet trainer1 mpa1 mil trainer2 mil helos2 new airliners2 current airliners2 commuter types1 old airliner- which has a very current role.I think there would be quite a few places happy with that line up.

I don't need to go into see the show, I'm local, however, I have paid in the past to go on trade days just because there is more to an airshow than just the flying, especially Farnborough. the last few shows I have worked there so havn't had to pay as you say, to get in. If I wasnt working I would go though...but only on a trade day !

To be honest, I think trade day tickets may be a bit disappointing to some enthusiasts:

Good for the spotters who just want the numbersBest flying views bar noneNo crowds and relatively easy accessEasy access to the fenceEven a free seat in the grandstandA bit cheaper

But

Flying is very limited and in between great views of the heavies many of the others get lost in the Farnborough skiesFlying display very short and to add insult, the first half an hour is a few hand held dronesStatic is diabolically laid out and tight and completely useless for viewing and picturesJust getting around the static is a nightmare with the fencing arrangementThe halls are of no interest to the average bod, they are mainly component and auxiliary manufacturers.The big show manufacturers are all in private halls with no access. In the Halcyon days talked about they were in the main hallsVisiting aircraft less than on a normal day and yesterday I was surprised at the death of helicopter traffic which used to be non stop.No shopping and limited foodCan't take families

I've lived in Farnborough for 54 years and worked at RAE(ah memories) for 23 of those and can say that IHO that this years show is the dullest I've ever seen.You've got to except that its a different world now and unfortunately the excitement has gone! I wonder why anyone pays £££s for what's left!